Dispensing Comfort for the Eyeglass Neophyte

I don’t care about comfort, said no one ever!

Comfort is a fundamental aspect of well-fit eyewear and ranks high in value for eyeglass wearers universally. But I wish to speak on behalf of all emmetropes now turned presbyopes. Comfortable eyewear is particularly important for us because as eyeglass wearing neophytes we have not had decades to grow accustomed to the weight of eyeglasses on our faces. For us, this new discomfort introduced into our lives is one that we must endure if we are to read menus, fine print or work comfortably in front of our computers. It may seem a simple matter, but dispensing comfort may be a vital part of the customer satisfaction equation for this distinct category of eyeglass wearer. I witness friends and family who have worn glasses for their entire lifetime, and to them, having a frame resting on their bridge and ears goes unnoticed—it’s second nature. But for those of us who spent our childhood and early adulthood with perfect vision, the gradual loss of accommodation with the onset of presbyopia and the newly acquired need for eyeglasses is uncomfortable visually and physically.

As opticians, what do we have in our toolbox to increase comfort for these eyeglass novices? We have frames made of super lightweight and durable titanium for the metal look and NXT frames for the plastic look. We have thin and lightweight lenses to offer. The worry-free lightweight comfort afforded by these eyeglasses could determine whether the emmetrope turned presbyope is happy with their new eyewear. We come to you for clear vision but rely on you to understand our increased need for comfort and convenience in our eyeglasses. We resist wearing progressive lenses because we have no need of correction for distance vision and no desire to wear glasses all of the time. And, we don’t want our computer distance vision reduced to a narrow area of the lens. We will, however, thank you for understanding our vision needs including the need for computer glasses and multiple pairs of quality, comfortable reading eyewear. The drawback of not adjusting to wearing glasses full time is that we are always looking for our glasses (occasionally forgetting that we’ve parked them on top of our heads or hanging from our collar). We are the perfect candidates for multiple pairs of comfortable glasses, which when conveniently located where we need them is our second key to eyeglass happiness!

Current Issue

March 2019

Related Education Topics

As Eye Care Practitioners (ECPs), we find ourselves in the position of “fixing” vision problems after they’ve been diagnosed. Glasses, contact lenses, vision therapy and more come out of our toolbox to help those who can no longer see clearly. But, with a nod to an old saying, what can we do to fix it before it’s broke?

Come and lend your enthusiasm to this year's fun and friendly NFOS College Bowl competition. Show your support and cheer for the student contestants representing their Opticianry School. Twelve students from NFOS member Opticianry schools compete in this rapid-fire quiz competition.